Just When You Thought You Were Safe!

Monday, November 11, 2013

Does anyone else feel like we just got through the gauntlet of Halloween eating?

I was going through Sunday's ads today before throwing them in the recycle bin -- and I immediately noticed that the same candy that was endlessly advertised for Halloween is NOW out in Christmas wrappings! Yup, Snickers bars, Hershey's kisses, the whole gang was represented! Not hardly a minute's break before the "you deserve this because it's a special occasion" mentality is foisted upon us again.

Thinking about that led me to muse about the fast food restaurants that issue tons of coupons and advertise irresistible deals this time of year. I get pages of advertisements and coupons for pizza chains, fried chicken deals, hamburger joints, all you can eat buffets, etc. They aren't stupid -- they know we are "busy" and likely to grab a bite out. We deserve it, right? They are happy to oblige with their fat-, sugar-, and salt-laden offerings.

So...all of this pressure is bearing down, in addition to all the sweets and once-a-year specialties on offer in break rooms, office parties, parties with friends, neighborhood parties, potlucks, family gatherings, church events, etc. etc. etc.

It's exhausting, isn't it?

But thinking about this now makes me very aware of it. I HATE being manipulated. I vow NOT to be manipulated by the advertising and get caught up in the "I deserve this because it's a special occasion" trap. It's just food. It holds no special power. It's always, endlessly available in myriad forms and reincarnations. I CAN choose not to have it right now. And that's the choice I'm going to keep on making.

I've worked too hard and am too close to my goal to let any of this nonsense derail me. It's not over UNTIL I WIN!

It's really hard this time of year as there's Halloween, Christmas, New Years then Valentines Day. All soooo close together. When I'm at the store I avoid the holiday/candy aisle...it's so tempting if I do go down them..so avoiding them helps.Stay Strong!! You can do it!!

Great point! It's true that the holiday mentality really slips in there. After Christmas.....it's new years and then Valentine's day! OH it's a holiday! Why not?!?! Well probably because we don't want to be too 'jolly' this Christmas ;)

That said, I find Christmas to be one of the most difficult times not to indulge. I think it's a combination of a particularly comfort food kind of mentality (cookies, cakes, pies, ect.) and the cold weather which makes me feel all cozy and in need of constant hot chocolate lol.

When I read the title of your blog, I thought that it might be about the bagged salad recall (and ecoli) since I tend to rely on those bagged salads. And I thought I was doing something good for myself! Your are right about the candy. The treats around the holidays are going to be even more tempting for me than the candy - which I think I can avoid. But I am not sure how I will pass up some of the good tasting foods that will appear.

Nanette you will win. Awareness iskey. I have also noticed how the sale flyers are loaded with processed foods. Now it makes going through the flyer much easier because I focus on produce. Also, thankfully, to get the deals on the stuff, we must buy X in order to get the price. I din't want that must so I'll get none. :)Thankfully we do have the power.

Nanette - hope these helped. I just did an email/account check and found at least a dozen blogs that were "inactive" on my list, including our fearless leader's! (don't tell!) re-activated them all. plus went back into my account and, while I did not change my email and password, I did click on "save my changes" and it said they were updated. One thing that might help - if your computer does autmatic updating, you should check your account/email preferences each time, as SP will make unwanted changes. good luck! (oops - this was supposed to go on the other blog. sorry)

Hitting goal is one win, but maintaining is a whole different one. So, for me, I guess it's never over. I struggle with wanting to buy something I'd use for a great monetary price vs. keeping it out of the house entirely to prevent the very real possibility of paying a weight gain price. Sigh. That middle ground is elusive.

I agree the ads are hard to ignore. As soon as Christmas is over, they'll be advertising Valentine's day, then Easter. Grrrr!

I don't read the ads, don't do coupons, don't like fast foods (any more), have limited family close by, and a BF who makes me eat oatmeal, salad, veggies, and fish all weekend :) Seasonal manipulation not happening here...

It's easier for me since I don't have children at home, but we had a supply of candy for the trick or treaters. The next day I immediately gave the remainder to our church. I don't want this stuff in the house.

I hear you about the specials and coupons. Everyone wants to get their money's worth or a "bargain." Even at the supermarket we have to run the gauntlet of "specials" as we enter and they are ALL processed junk.